Lulu Bell and the Circus Pup
Read Lulu Bell and the Circus Pup Online
Authors: Belinda Murrell
Meet Lulu Bell. Where there's Lulu, there's family, friends, animals and adventures galore!
A circus is setting up near Lulu's house. How exciting! But as Lulu and her family walk past, they see a young girl crying. Stella tells them that Spangles the performing dog is missing.
Lulu is determined to help Stella find the clever pup. Can Stella teach Lulu a circus trick in return? When the show starts, the Bell family might get a big surprise!
For Jessica, who inspired me to write about a circus pup. And to the cast and crew of Cavalia, especially Eric and Mathieu, and Katie and Fairland â fearless riders extraordinaire, who all generously shared their passion for horses and performing. You are amazing!
Gymnastics
It was Tuesday afternoon after school. Lulu Bell and her sister Rosie were at gymnastics class. There were seven girls and six boys, and they were all practising their cartwheels.
Lulu swung sideways from her feet to her hands and over again. She did twenty cartwheels in a row. Her best record yet. On the last one she wobbled but landed safely on her feet.
âBeautiful cartwheels, Lulu,' said Miss Carolina. âI like the way you are keeping your legs nice and straight.'
Lulu felt a glow of pride. âThanks, Miss Carolina. I've been practising every day in the garden at home.'
Mum sat watching with the other mothers. Lulu's little brother Gus was doing forward rolls with his friends. He was too young to do classes yet, but he liked to copy his older sisters. The only problem was that he refused to take off his cowboy hat and boots. This made it hard to roll in a straight line.
The last part of the class was walking on the balance beam. Lulu concentrated hard, and held her arms out to the side. She felt like a tightrope walker. Lulu loved doing gymnastics.
âOkay, gang,' said Miss Carolina. âGreat work. I'll see you all next Tuesday. Keep practising!'
âGoodbye, Miss Carolina,' chorused the children. âSee you next week.'
The kids milled around, chatting and laughing. Lulu's friend Jessica skipped over. Her twin brothers Jack and Toby were great friends with Gus.
âHave you heard the news, Lulu?' asked Jessica. âThe circus is coming to Shelly Beach. Mum said we can go on Friday night.'
âThe circus?' said Lulu. Her eyes shone with excitement. âWe went to the
circus when it came two years ago. It was fantastic.'
âWill they have lions and elephants and monkeys?' asked Rosie.
âThere's a poster on the noticeboard,' said Jessica. âLet's take a look.'
The children crowded around the noticeboard. The poster showed a clown with a white-painted face, a smiling red mouth, a huge red nose and a curly blue wig.
âStarlight Circus,' read Lulu. âA dazzling show with acrobats, jugglers and crazy clowns.'
âStarring camels, horses and performing dogs,' added Rosie.
Mum came over to join them. âTime to head home, honey buns.'
âLook, Mum,' said Lulu. âThe circus is coming. Can we go? Pleeease?'
âPretty please with cherries on top?' said Rosie.
Mum read the poster and smiled. âWe'll see. Come on.'
The three Bell children called goodbye to their friends. The girls slipped their school uniforms over their blue leotards. Rosie also pulled on her angel wings. Gus climbed into the pram.
Outside, the family dogs Asha and Jessie were tied up in the shade of a tree. They jumped up and wriggled with excitement to see the children.
âGood girls. Did you miss us?' Lulu asked. She untied the dogs' leads.
âWoof,' said Asha. Jessie smiled her big doggy smile.
âYou know, I think we might walk home the long way today,' said Mum. âIt would be a nice change to walk back through Lagoon Park.'
Lulu turned around. âThe long way?' she asked. âWhy?'
Mum had a cheeky smile on her face. âOh, who knows what fabulous sights we might see if we go the long way?'
Mmmm
, thought Lulu.
Mum's up to something. I wonder what it could be?
Lagoon Park
Lagoon Park was a long, narrow stretch of grass beside a wide lagoon. The late afternoon sun glinted on the water. Wispy rushes fringed the banks. Fat brown ducks waddled on the shore.
Gus climbed out of the pram.
âDon't go too close to the water, Gus,' warned Mum.
Gus grinned and ran towards the ducks. The ducks scattered, squawking in disgust. Gus jumped in a puddle.
Lulu thought the park seemed very quiet today. Normally there were lots of kids playing and dogs running about. Dogs were allowed off their leads here. Jessie smiled up at Lulu. Jessie and Asha loved Lagoon Park.
Lulu unclipped the leads. Asha and Jessie raced off. They took it in turns to chase each other in mad circles. When they were tired they flopped into the cool water of the lagoon.
âGussie swim too?' asked Gus.
âNot today, honey bun,' said Mum. âI think there might be a surprise if we keep going.' She pushed the pram along the footpath. The kids followed. Lulu wondered what the surprise could be.
The family rounded a bend. Lulu noticed something different about the park. At the far end there was a large red-and-white striped tent. A blue-and-gold pennant fluttered on top. Some caravans were parked behind the tent too.
âThe circus!' called Lulu. âIt's here.'
Mum grinned. âI told you we might see something fun if we walked the long way.'
âCome on, Rosie,' cried Lulu. âLet's hurry.'
Lulu, Rosie and Gus ran towards the circus camp. Circus workers hurried back
and forth. Men were securing the ropes and pegs of the big tent. A crowd of people had gathered to watch.
Several temporary yards had been set out for the animals. Sandy-coloured camels peered over the fence. They gently chewed their cud.
Snow-white horses were being unloaded from the back of a truck. A woman led them two-by-two down the ramp. They arched their necks and tossed their manes.
The woman led the horses into one of the yards and shut the gate. They began to graze, their tails swishing.
âI wish we could take them home,' said Lulu.
There was so much to see. Mum held Gus's hand so he couldn't get into mischief. Lulu clipped the two dogs back on their leads. She didn't want them to get lost in the milling crowd.
A girl with tangled black hair wandered past. She wore a big, sloppy jumper, shorts and bare feet. She was about ten years old and walking a group of six dogs on leads. Lulu recognised a chocolate Labrador, two black poodles, two tan-and-white terriers and a golden retriever. The dogs yapped and barked.
âLook at the girl with all the dogs,' said Lulu. âDo you think she is one of the circus performers?'
Rosie shook her head. âNo. She's not wearing a tutu or a tiara.'
Mum laughed. âShe probably wouldn't wear a tiara to walk the dogs. Only when she was performing.'
Rosie twisted a long dark ringlet around her finger. âI would if I was a circus girl.'
Asha sniffed at a small dog that was wandering past. It was a small, fluffy terrier with a hot-pink handkerchief knotted around its neck. It had a cream body with furry grey ears and a scruffy black face. The dog woofed at Asha and licked her on the nose.
âHello, gorgeous,' said Lulu. âWhere's your owner?'
The dog woofed again. Then it trotted off after the circus girl.
âLook, Mum,' called Rosie. âA juggler.' Lulu turned to watch, forgetting the dog.
Rosie pointed to the workmen who had been erecting the tent. One had pulled three red balls from his overall pockets. He tossed and juggled them in the air. The balls spun in a whirring circle.
Another workman began turning somersaults. He sprang from hands to feet over and over again. His body spun so fast he was almost a blur. He whizzed around the juggler.
The crowd clapped and cheered.
âMan flying,' said Gus.
âHe's an acrobat,' said Mum. âIt must have taken him years to learn how to somersault so well.'
âWow,' said Lulu. âI wish I could do that.'
Gus promptly began to try. After one attempt he landed in a tangled heap of boy, boots and cowboy hat. Lulu laughed and helped Gus up. She pulled dried grass out of his hair and dusted off his shirt.
The acrobat sprang back to his feet. He swept a deep bow.
âCome along to see the world-famous Starlight Circus,' called the acrobat. âBe amazed and enthralled. Be thrilled and intrigued. Roll up, folks. Buy your tickets for the grand opening on Friday night.'
Lulu jiggled with excitement. âPlease can we go, Mum?' she begged.
Mum smiled. âWe'll see how we go, honey buns. But now we need to get home.'
Mum turned to Gus and pointed at the pram seat. âIn you hop, Gus. I think we've had more than enough circus fun for one day.'
Gus climbed into the pram and jammed his cowboy hat on his head. He popped his thumb in his mouth.
âI could never have too much circus fun,' said Lulu. âI wish we
lived
in a circus!'